Flow equalizer



w. c. TRAUTMAN Erm. 2,413,896

FLow EQUALIZER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 2s, 1945 y A. A. MEDDOGK Ar ron/vx .ii i,

FLOW EQUALIzEn Walter C. Trautman, Los Angeles, and Alvin A. Meddock, North Hollywood, Calif., assignors to Bendix Aviation Corporation, South Bend,

Ind., a oorporationot Delaware Application April 23, 1945, Serial No. 589,772

1 A This invention relates to equalizer valves for equalizing uid owin a pair of branch lines, and more particularly to a reversible equalizer valve of the ltype disclosed in application of Walter C. Trautman, Serial No. 502,877, illed September 18, 1943, which equalizes the flow in a pair of branch lines irrespective of whether the ow is from the common line into the branch lines, or from the branch lines into the common line.

An object of the invention is to provide a reversible ow equalizer valve that is particularly simple in construction and easily assembled and disassembled.

Another object is to provide a reversible flow equalizer valve oi such construction that it` can be readily and inexpensively manufactured.'

Other more specic objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description to follow of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

The present invention is'an improvement of the valve disclosed in the aforementioned application Serial No. 502,877, which contains a shuttle valve consisting oi a short, pressure-responsive piston oi substantial diameter working in a relatively short cylinder and having a pair of piston valves oi substantially smaller diameter extending from its opposite sides into valve cylinders of corresponding diameter. A reversible ow equalizer valve also incorporates check valves for directingow to one set of ports controlled by the piston valves when .the flow is from the common line to the branch lines and for directing the fluid to other ports controlled by the piston valves when the dow is from the branch lines into the common line, and in the earlier application these check valves were positioned in the body of the valve exterior of the piston.

in accordance withthe present invention, the structure oi the earlier application has been slmplii'ied, while preserving the same general mode of operation, by employing a single piston of substantial diameter and length as the piston valve, and utilizing the opposite ends of this piston as the pressure faces against which the controlling pressures are applied. Further simplification is effected by locating the check valves within the piston itself. use of a much simpler and less expensive valve body, but facilitates the assembly of the check valves and reduces the weight oi the piston. A light piston is desirable because it has less inertia and responds more quickly to correct any tendency toward inequality in the rates of flow.

ln the drawings:

7 Claims. (Cl. IS7-165) Fig. l is an exterior view of a valve in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a section taken in theplane lI-II of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section taken in the plane III-III of Fig. 2. A

Fig. 4 is a section taken in the plane IV-IV of Fig. 1: and

Fig. 5 is a vsection taken in the plane V-V of Fig. 2, which is at right angles to the section of Fig. 4.A

The valvedisclosed comprises a housing or casing consisting ot a body ID and a pair of end plates Il and I2, respectively, which are secured to opposite ends of the body by 4cap screws I3. The body defines a main cylinder I4, the opposite ends of which are closed by the end plates II and I2 and which contains a main piston I5 which has four check valves therein, to be described later.

The `main cylinder I4 contains two annular grooves I8 and I'I which are in constant communication with a pair o! outlet ports I8 and i9 adapted to be connected to branch lines and 2| respectively. The piston I5 has a pair of annular grooves 22 and 23 cooperating with the cyl- This not only makes possible the Inder groove I6 to variably control now therein and also a pair of annular grooves 24 and 2li cooperating with the cylinder groove I1 to control l flow therein.

The piston I5 contains four check valves for selectively communicating the different piston grooves 22, 23, 24, and 25 with opposite ends oi the main cylinder. l

Thus. the groove 23 communicates with thelei't end 26 of the piston through a cylindrical passage 30. This passage 30 has a seat at its inner A passage 3| aligned with passage 30 extends into the piston from the right end face 32 .thereof, but this is a blind passage provided primarily to lighten the piston, although it also saves an additional purpose to be described later.

The piston groove 22 (Fig. 5) is also connected to the left end 26 of the piston through cylindrical passages 33 and 3| in the piston. The

passage 33 extends into the piston from the right end 32 thereof, but it is closed at its right end by a plug 35 having a groove containing a sealing ring 31, the plug 35 being retained in position by a split retaining ring 38. A check valve 3S urged to the left by a helical compression spring flo compressed between the rear end of the valve 39 and the plug 36 prevents ilow of fluid from the groove 22 to the left end of the piston while permitting ow in the reverse direction.

The groove 2A in the piston is connected to the'rlght end of the piston through a cylindrical passage ill containing a check valve 42 similar to the check valve 21, so that uid can flow from the groove 24 to the right end 32 of the piston but cannot flow in the reverse direction. A hole 44 entering the piston from the left end is provided in alignment with the passage 4I to lighten the piston, and provide a connection to be described later.

The groove 25 is communicated with the right end 32 of the piston through a'passage 45 and a passage 135 similar to the pasages 33 and 34 respectively. A closure plug 41 having a sealing ring 68 prevents fluid flow between the passage 55 and the left end of the piston, and a check valve 49 urged to the right by a spring 50, prevents fiuid ow from groove 25 to the right end of the piston, while permitting reverse flow.

The main piston I5 controls flow between the branch lines 20 and 2I and the opposite ends of the main cylinder I4, and the opposite ends of the cylinder are connected to a. common line 55. Thus, referring to Fig. 2, the common line 55 communicates with one end of a cylindrical passage 55 which extends through the body transversely with respect to the main cylinder it. The mid-portion of the passage is slightly reduced to form a cylinder 51 which slidably receives a sleeve 58 which is urged to the right by a helical compression spring 59 compressed between the left end of the sleeve and a retainer ring 65, the latter being held by a split ring 6I. The sleeve 58 has a shoulder 62 at its left end, which shoulder seats against the shoulder at the left end of the cylinder 51 to limit movement of the sleeve by the spring 59..

There is positioned within the sleeve 58 a piston 53 which is urged into the right end of the sleeve by a helical compression spring 64 compressed between the piston and a closure plug 65 which is screwed into the right end of the passage 55 and has a sealing ring 65 for effecting a fluid seal. The piston 53 has a Shoulder 61 on its right end which abutts against the shoulder at the right end of the cylinder 51 to limit movement of the piston by the spring S5.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 5, the cylinder 51 common line 55, and the rear end of the piston is exposed to the pressure existing in the passage 1 I, which is transmitted through a small passage 16 to the rear end of the piston. The result is that when the pressure in the common line 55 exceeds the pressure in passage 1I by an amount suicient to overcome the force of spring 65, the piston 53 is moved to y:the right" to uncover the ports 14 and 15 and permit ilow therethrough to the passages 10 and 1I. Since the differential pressure must overcome the force of the spring 64 before the piston 63 is moved to uncover the ports 14 and 15, the spring-actuated piston functions to produce pressure drops between the common line and the passages 10 and 1I when the flow is from the common line 55 into the valve.

When the ow is from the valve into the common line 55, the pressure in the passage 1I exceeds the pressure in the common line and this differential pressure acting against the right end of the sleeve 58 overcomes the force of the spring 59 and moves the sleeve to the left until the ports 14 and 15 are uncovered.

The spring-controlled piston and sleeve, therefore, function to introduce a desired pressure drop at the ports 14 and 15, irrespective of the direction of flow.

The valve functions as follows when the direction of flow is from the common line into the branch lines 20 and 2 I:

Fluid entering the passage 56 from the common line 55 moves the piston 53 to uncover the ports 14 and 15 and permit fluid ow through the passages 10 and 1I to the end chambers 12 and 13 of the valve. If the flow through both passages 10 and 1I is equal, then the pressure drops through the ports 14 and 15 are equal, and equal pressures exist in the chambers 12 and 13, the pressures being slightly less than that in the common line 55 because of the pressure drops at the ports 14 and 15,

Pressure fluid in chamber 12 functions to seat the check valve 21 so that no ow occurs therepast. However, the pressure opens check valve 39, permitting fluid to flow into the piston groove 22 and past the shoulder 22a of this groove into the body groove I6 and thence into the branch line 20. At the same time, the pressure fluid in the chamber 13 holds the check valve 42 on its seat, but opens the check valve 49 permitting fluid to now into the piston groove 25 and past is intersected by a pair of aligned passages 10 and 1I which extend to thel opposite ends of the body I ti (Fig. 5) and communicate with chambers i2 and 13 dened by the body member I5 and the end closure members II and I2, respectively'.V Suitable seais III and I2I are provided to effect a fluid-tight closure between the cover plates il and I2 and the body. As is apparent, the chamber 12 communicates with the left end of the piston I5 and the chamber E3 communicates with the right end.

Referring again to Fig. 3, the sleeve S8 has a pair of ports 1li and 15 in its wall, which ports are in constant communication with the passages 1G end I respectively, but are normally blocked by the piston 63, The front end of the piston 53 is exposed to the pressure of fluid in the the shoulder 25a thereon into the cylinder groove I1 and thence to the branch line 2i.

S0 long as the pressures are equal in chambers 12 and 13, the piston I5 will be centrally located and the resistance to ow from piston groove 22 past shoulder 22a into cylinder groove I6 will be equal to the resistance to flow from piston groove 25 past shoulder 25a into the cylinder groove I1.

Howeven if the fluid tends to ow faster into branch 2i than into branch 20, the pressure drop through port 15 (Fig. 3) will be greater than the pressure drop through port 145, and the pressure in chamber 13 will become less than that in chamber 12, moving the piston I5 t0 the right and causing shoulder 25a to increasingly throttle flow into the branch line 2I and causing shoulder 22a to decreasingly throttle flow into the branch line 2. The result is that the iiows are again substantially equalized by the movement of the piston, since the movement will be of whatever extent is necessary to bring the pressures in the chambers 12 and 13 back to equality.

Of course, if the increased fiow occurs in the When the direction of flow isfrom the branch l check valve 4Q is seated, and, hence, ow can only occur from groove l1 through the piston groove 2li and past check valve 42 to chamber 13. Fluid howirfg through the chambers 12 and 'I3 passes through the passages and 1| and out through the ports 14 and 15 to the common line 55, the f ports 14 and l5 being maintained open by pressure transmitted from passage II through passage 16 to the right end of the sleeve 58. The ports lil and 15 introduce a pressure drop proportional to the flow, and as long as the flows from the two branch lines 20 and 2| are the same, equal pressures exist in the chambers 12 and 13 and the throttling eiect of shoulder 24a from cylinder groove Il to piston groove 24 is equal to the throttling effect of shoulder 23a to fluid flow from cylinder groove I6 to the piston groove 23. However, if fluid tends to flow into the valve faster from branch 2| than branch 20, the pressure will become higher in chamber 13 than in chamber l2, moving the piston to the left to increasingly throttle iiuid flow at shoulder 24a and decreasingly throttle fluid flow at shoulder 23a un til equality of flow is again restored. If the 110W into the valve from branch line 20 becomes greater than the :dow from branch 2|, the reverse condition prevails, the pressure in cham- "ber 12 rising above that inV chamber 13, and mov- `ing the piston to the right to increasingly throttie How past shoulder 23a and decreasingly throttling iiow past shoulder 24a.

6 is connected to the left end of the piston through a port 80 and the hole 44, and the groove '19 is connected to the right end of the piston through a port 8| (Fig. 4) and the hole 3|. therefore, groove 18 always contains fluid at the same pressure existing at the left end of the piston, and the groove 19 always contains fluid at the pressure existing at the right end of the piston. Except while the piston is movingto compensate for changes in resistance to flow in the twoy branch lines 20 and 2|, the pressures at the opposite ends of the piston are substantially equal. Whenever there is a substantial difference in the resistance to flows in the two branch lines 20 and 2|, the pressures in the grooves I6 and I1 will be substantially different, and without the grooves "I8 and 19, there would be a crossilow of leakage fluid through the clearance between the piston and cylinder between the grooves 23 and 24. However, the grooves 18. and 'I9 prevent such cross flow because the pressures in grooves 18 and 19 are always substantially the same.'

As an example, assume that as a' result of substantial increase in the resistance to flow through the branch line 20 as compared to the branch line 2|, ther piston I5 moves in such direction as to permit relatively :tree now from the piston groove 22 into the groove IB while greatly throttling flow rfrom the piston groove 25 into the groove pressure in I1. Under these conditions, the cylinder groove I6 will be high compared to the pressure in cylinder groove I1, and withoutthe grooves 18 and 19, there would be leakage of fluid from cylinder groove I6 into piston groove 423, thence along the clearance between the piston and cylinder into the piston groove 24 and thence into the cylinder groove I1 and the line 2|. 'Obviously, therefore, the uid entering the line 2| 'would consist in part of uid owng through the metering port 14 instead o1' consisting solely 1 of fluid iowingv through the metering port 15,

Vas it should be. However, such cross flow as has been described is rendered impossible by the groove 18 and 19 because those grooves are al- Ways lled with uid that is at higher pressure than the pressure in either the cylinder groove I 6 or the cylinder groove I1 so that whatever Aple ,structure that can be readily manufactured y and serviced. Furthermore, it provides a very simple body structure, requiring lmuch less mal chine work than the valves of this type previously ufactured.

lit is important in a valve of this type, particularly when the flow is from the common line into the branch lines 2li and 2|, that all of the huid entering one branch line 2li pass through the metering port it and that allof the fluid entering the other branch line 2l pass through the other metering port fi5 This means that there should be no lealragealongthe surface of piston it from one body groove .i6 to the other body groove il, or vice versa'. However, in p. practical valve, the piston cannot be ilttediso tightly in' the cylinder that there is no leakage whatsoever. We, therefore, maire provision that whatever leakage there is along the piston into grooves it and l1 'will be from that end of` the piston adjacent the groove. This is done by providing a pair of annular grooves i8 and 19 near the middle of the piston and connecting each groove to the end oi the piston to which it is closest. rlFhus, referring to Fig. 5, the groove I8 leakage there is, is from the groove 18 to the groove I6 and from the groove 19to` the groove I1. As a result, regardless of the"'unavoidable leakage along the piston. all of the uid entering the branch line 2U ows through the metering port 14 and all of the fluid that enters the branch line 2| ilows through the metering port 15. Obviously, the grooves 18 and 18 could -be located in the cylinder wall instead of the piston, but it is easier to place them in the piston. y

If it is not necessary to control fluid now in both directions, the valve can be simplified by eliminating all the check valves in the piston and one set of grooves on the piston. Thus, if it is necessary only to handle :dow from the common line 55 to the branch lines 20 and 2|, the piston grooves 23 and 24 can be omitted. On the other hand, if now is only from the branch lines 20 and 2| to the common line 55, the piston grooves 22 and 25 can be omitted. Hence, the same body can be'used for both reversible and non-reversible models of the valve. thereby reducing production cost, and enabling conversion of valves in the held by merely changing the pistons.

We claim: i

1. A new proportioning valve comprising a body having a common fluid connection and a Obviously,

pair of branch connections and dening a cylin- -der having a pair of longitudinally-spaced ports in its cylindrical wall respectively connected to said branch connections, said body also having fluid passages respectively connecting said common connection with the ends of said cylinder; means for producing pressure drops in said passages proportional to uid flow therein; a piston in said cylinder movable in response to the djfference in pressure acting on opposite ends of said cylinder in either direction from a neutral position, said piston having a pair of annular grooves cooperating respectively with said cylinder ports and having passages therein communicating one groove with one end face and communicating the other groove with the other end face of the piston; each of said piston grooves and its associated cylinder port being so positioned relative to each other as to equally throttle fluid flow rangement being such that movement of said piston in response to departure of the pressures at opposite ends of the piston from equality variably throttles flow through said ports in such direction as to nullify said departure and maintain the pressures equal at the opposite ends of the piston.

2 A valve as described in claim 1 in which said body comprises a main member having two parallel passages extending longitudinally therethrough and a, pair of detachable end closure members in sealing relation with said main member "for interconnecting adjacent ends of said parallel passages, one oi.' said parallel passages constituting said cylinder and the other of said parallel passages having connection intermediate its ends with said common connection through said means for producing pressure drops.

3. A flow proportioning valve comprising a body having a main fluid connection and a pair of branch connections connected by branch passages to said main connection and having iiow resistance means in each branch passage and throttling means in each branch passage responsive to departure of the pressures therein between the flow resistance means and the throttling means from a given ratio for varying said throttling means so as to nullify said departure and maintain the iiows in the two branch passages in constant ratio, in which: throttling means comprises a cylinder having a pair of ports respectively connected to said branch connections; a piston movable in said cylinder in either direction from a neutral position and having four annular grooves thereon, two on opposite sides of one cylinder port, and two on opposite sides of the other cylinder port when said piston is in neutral position, said piston having separate passages therein connecting the two grooves of one pair to one end face of the piston and connecting the two grooves of the other pai! to the other end face of the piston; check valve means in said piston passages restricting ow in the two passages communicating with each end of the piston to opposite directions; the arrangement being such that the flow in either cylinder port is increasingly throttled in response to an increase in the pressure in the end of said cylinder connected to that port relative to the pressure in the other end of the cylinder when the direction of flow is from the branch connections to said main connection and vice versa when the directhe tion of flow is from said main connection to the branch connection.

4. A valve as described in claim l in which said fluid passages in said body connecting said common connection with both ends of said cylinder comprise: a first passage extendingr through said body and connecting at its opposite ends to opposite ends of said cylinder, a second passage extending through said body at an angle to and intersecting said first passage, one end of said second passage constituting said common iiuid connection, means closing the other end of said second passage, a sleeve reciprocal in said second passage having a pair of diametrically opposite ports communicating with opposite ends of said first passage, a piston reciprocal in said sleeve to cover and uncover the ports therein, spring means urging said sleeve in one direction and separate spring means urging said piston in the opposite direction to normally cover the ports in said sleeve, one end of said sleeve and one end of said piston being exposed to fluid pressure in said one end of said second passage, and means for applying fluid pressure from one end oi said rst passage to said other end of said second passage, the construction and arrangement of said sleeve, piston, and springs being such that said piston is displaced to uncover said sleeve ports in response to pressure in said one end of said second passage exceeding the pressure in the other end and said sleeve is moved to uncover said sleeve ports in response to pressure in the other end of said passage exceeding the pressure in said first end thereof.

5. A valve for proportioning the ow rates in a pair of ducts connected in parallel relation to each other and in series with a common duct containing means for circulating fluid in either direction therethrough said valve comprising: a body member dening a, cylinder having a pair of longitudinally-spaced ports in its cylindrical wall adapted to be connected to said pair of ducts, and having a common connection adapted to be connected to said common duct; means in said body connecting said common connection with opposite ends of said cylinder and producing pressure drops proportional to flow in response to fluid iiow between the said common connection and opposite ends of said cylinder; a piston in said cylinder reciprocal in either direction from a neutral position, a iirst pair of annular grooves on said piston associated with said respective cylinder ports and connected by passages through said piston to opposite ends thereof for inversely throttling fluid ilow from said respective cylinder ports to opposite ends of said cylinder in response to movement of said piston, the arrangement of tbe grooves being such with respect to their associated cylinder ports that the flow in each port is increasingly throttled in response to an increase in the pressure in the end of said cylinder connected to that port relative to the pressure in the other end when the direction of flow is from said ports to said common connection; check valves in said piston passages preventing flow therethrough from the ends of said piston to said first pair of piston grooves; a second pair of annular grooves on said piston associated with said respective cylinder ports and passages in said piston connecting said grooves to opposite ends of the piston, for inversely throttling fluid flow from opposite ends of said cylinder to said respective cylinder ports in response to movement of the piston, the arrangement of said second pair of grooves being such with respect to their assoannesse i eyiinder :norte that the iiiovv in each port de easine'iy throttled in response to en increnae in the pressure in the end o1 said cylinder cenneeted to that port relative to the pressure in, the other end when the direction of iovv is from said common connection to said ports, and cheer: valves in said last-mentioned piston pasior ereventine9 tiow therethrough from said second oair ot grooves in the piston to the ends i grieten.,

nive tor the distribution of uids com'- nrieing: means for dividing a fluid ovr along two patire, means in each oi said paths adapted to oder a resistance to uid ow, a cylinder having its ends communicating with said paths, a. piston in the cylinder, and ports in the cylinder providing a continuation of said paths, said ports being throttled by said piston and being adapted to have their tree creas inversely varied by the second pair of annular grooves interrupting the leakage path through the piston cylinder clearance between said cylinder ports, and means providing fiuid connection between each groove of said second pair and the end or said cylinder adjacent that groove.

' WALTERC. TRAUTMAN.

ALVIN A. MEDDOCK. 

